Australian women file writ against Johnson & Johnson over link between talcum powder causing mesothelioma and cancer
Class actions or contingent litigation are increasingly common and have become important sources of income for lawyers and third-party funders. This no win, no fee legal process groups together individuals who believe they have been adversely affected by the actions of big corporate business. One of the latest in Australia involves an attempt to obtain financial compensation for cancer caused allegedly by talcum powder. 1300 women have registered an interest in a case to be heard in the Victorian Supreme Court.
Defendants in the writ are the multinational Johnson and Johnson who have been subject to many similar suits in the US. They dispute the link betewen talc and cancer and deny that their product might be contaminated with asbestos, which is a well proven cause of mesothelioma. In a recent statement the World Health Organisation has classified talc as probably carcinogenic.
The legal process in the US has been lengthy and remains incomplete. No doubt any case in Australia would be similar. Many of the women will not understand the legal delay and judging by previous similar cases, could well be disappointed with the result.
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